EDITORIAL: This Hairstyle Is Much Better, Baba Shero
HARARE — Sungura maestro Alick Macheso unveiled a new hairstyle at the weekend, and this one appears to have been far more warmly received than his first attempt, which torched a massive wave of controversy across Zimbabwe.
Baba Shero probably knew that his first outrageous hairstyle—in which he debuted cornrows—would trigger a reaction. However, it’s very likely he didn’t anticipate the sheer extent of the negative feedback. That explains why he quickly pivoted, coming up with the refined look he showed off during the weekend.
The Backlash & The Fix
The public's initial reaction to Macheso's cornrows was swift and unforgiving, but his latest switch has calmed the waters.
Respecting a Father Figure
We were not happy with the first hairstyle because we felt he was too old to go for the kind of looks we expect from young, upcoming musicians. But we are comfortable with the one he unveiled at the weekend because it has the decency we expect from someone of his stature—a true father figure in our music industry.
The Ascot Debut
Football fans had the privilege of seeing the new, refined hairstyle up close when he performed at Ascot Stadium in Gweru during the presentation of the PSL trophy to the champions, Scottland.
The "Ordinary Man" Brand
For over twenty years, Macheso's image has been rooted in simplicity and raw talent.
A Preference for the Natural
Of course, many of his traditional fans would have preferred him to stick to the image he has presented over the past two decades—his natural hair. It suits him best, given he has always portrayed himself as an ordinary, hardworking man.
Letting the Talent Speak
Macheso's brand was built on being the ordinary man next door, the man in the street. He has always been a simple man with simple tastes who works hard to feed his family and lets his immense musical talent do all the talking.
Surviving the Digital Age
While nostalgia is powerful, we must appreciate that Macheso is now living and working in a world completely different from the one he walked into when he started his career.
A Global Shift
This is a new and challenging digital world. It challenges the likes of Macheso to change the way they do business, just as it has challenged legacy media houses to invest in digital infrastructure. It’s happening all over the world; brands must adapt or perish.
Trending for Survival
In today’s fast-paced world, Macheso knows that it is vital for his brand to trend on new media spaces. For his band and his music to remain relevant, he cannot afford to be invisible on the internet.
Hits vs. Hype
Two Weeks of Buzz
Macheso has been trending for the last two weeks without even introducing a new song—thanks entirely to changing his hairstyle. In today’s attention economy, manufacturing that kind of visibility is a stroke of marketing genius.
The Ultimate Delivery
However, the Sungura king also knows that hype must be backed by substance. He has to back all this renewed internet interest with actual new hits. This is a different world from the one where simply dropping a classic like Shedia was good enough to keep him on top.
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